Do you own or would love to own a fifty-cent with a rich history? At what price or value do you think you can buy or sell a 1954 Franklin half dollar?
Well, you are about to get the correct answers. Here, we’ll talk about the 1954 Franklin half dollar value.
These coins are one of the coins that many collectors love. Its specs carry a deep message about the US heritage and history.
The US government made these coins due to many great reasons. Among them was to spread a message of patriotism. Your 1954 Franklin half dollar’s value will depend on aspects like grading.
You’ll love the coin’s beauty. But before that, let’s start with the 1954 Franklin half dollar’s meaning and history.
What’s the 1954 Franklin Half Dollar?
This coin is in the group of Franklin half dollars. The coin family replaced the Walking Liberty half dollar family in 1948.
John R. Sinnock, the US chief engraver at that time, designed this 00coin’s obverse. Both John Sinnock and Gilroy Roberts created the art on the coin’s reverse.
Remember, the US Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) rejected Sinnock’s and Gilroy’s arts. Better still, the treasury allowed mints to strike the coins.
So, the CFA got it all wrong. Today, with its simple specs, most collectors love its beauty. Read on to see the looks of a 1954 Franklin fifty cent.
Features of the 1954 Franklin Half Dollar
Collectors love the features and design on this coin. Some features are on the other Franklin half dollars. But here’s what you’ll see on a 1954 Franklin half dollar.
Head
Benjamin Franklin’s portrait is on the coin’s obverse. You’ll see the 1954-year mark below Franklin’s chin.
The head has the word “LIBERTY” on top of Franklin’s head. Expect to see the legend “IN GOD WE TRUST” that curves at the bottom.
Tail
Here’s where you’ll see the coin’s most features. It has a Liberty bell that takes most space.
At the center-right of the Liberty bell, there’s a small eagle. The US motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is on the center-left.
Also, the tail has the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” which arc above the bell. These words “HALF DOLLAR” curve at the bottom.
Two groups of three parallel horizontal lines circle the bell’s bottom and base. Such aspects help decide the coin’s value.
Weight, Size, and Color
A 1954 Franklin fifty cent has a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. It weighs 12.5 grams and has a diameter of 30.6 mm.
These coins have a silver color. Expect them to have a reeded edge. Also, the fifty-cent has a silver weight of 0.36169 oz.
Letter Mark
There are two types of Franklin half dollars with a letter mark. It depends on the place that struck your coins. You’ll see the mintmark below the word “STATES” in the “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the reverse.
Places that Minted the 1954 Franklin Half Dollar
Only three mints struck the 1954 Franklin half dollar. All the mints made up to 43 627 182 1954 Franklin half dollar coins.
Also, the US made 233 300 1954 Franklin half proof coins. Here are the details of the coins from each firm.
Philadelphia Mint
These coins don’t have any letter marks. The firm made 13 188 202 Franklin half dollars in 1954. Remember, these coins went to people in Central America.
It made the second-highest number after the Denver mint. So, they aren’t as common as the ones from Denver.
Denver Mint
This mint firm made 25 445 580 Franklin fifty cents. It was the highest among the three firms. Well, it’s because the firm supplied coins to Central America.
Coins from this place have a letter mark “D.” These fifty-cents aren’t rare because they are the most common among the three types.
San Francisco Mint
1954 Franklin half dollars from San Francisco have a letter mark “S.” This place made only 4 993 400 coins. These coins served people on the West coast.
So, it’s not that easy to get the 1924-S Franklin half dollars today. San Francisco mint stopped minting in 1955.
Reasons for Minting the Franklin Half Dollar
In 1954, the US made these coins for many great reasons. The key one was to ensure that the nation’s commerce did well.
Remember, the nation was recovering from the effects of World War II. Minting costs were lower after the war. So, it was easy for the nation to make the coins.
Factors that Affect the Value of the 1954 Franklin Half Dollar
Besides the coin’s mint firm, many other aspects determine your coin’s quality when trading it. Most of these specs go around the coin’s condition.
Grade
Collectors use the grade to determine the coin’s value in today’s market. An ancient coin’s grade comes from its present looks.
When you want to sell your coin, ensure you first know its grade. Many pawnshops and firms can grade your coin for you at a cost. But here’s what to look for in each 1954 Franklin half dollar grade.
- Good
If your coin falls in this class, know that it has passed through many hands of trade for decades. Such a 1954 Franking fifty-cent has lost many details. Collectors love them because they are rare.
These coins have much wear and scratches visible. Sometimes, your coin can be so bad that you’ll need a magnifying glass to see the images and text.
Liberty bell lines aren’t present. Also, Franklin’s hairline isn’t present because of wear.
The texts are together with the edges because of excess wear. Such coins have the lowest value. Expect the coins to be in grade 4.
- Fine
The 1954 Franklin half dollars in the class have passed through many hands of trade. You can still see the coin’s key images, the year, and letters.
You’ll see some damage and scratches on both surfaces but not as much as those in the good grade. Also, the coin’s color has faded or has some rust.
Letterings haven’t joined with the coin’s edges. But the large waves on the hair and ears aren’t present.
These half dollars have a better value than those in the good class. They are on a scale of 12.
- Extremely Fine
Your coin will be in the extremely fine grade if it still has most key features. The surfaces should have less wear.
Though Franklin’s hair and ears are visible, they still see some contact marks and wear spots. Expect the Liberty bell and the letterings to have some wear marks too.
These came out of the mint but circulated through very few hands. So, they are still lovely, and many collectors are after them. They have a higher value than the coins in the fine grade.
When you place the coin in the light, you’ll see that the luster is still present. Remember, such coins lie on a scale of 40.
- Uncirculated
As for these 1954 Franklin half dollars, they never circulated after the firms minted them. Their surfaces still look new and with a shiny luster.
Also, the images, letters, and other vital details on these coins are still fresh. Use a magnifying glass to see possible contact marks and scratches.
On the grading scale, these coins start from 50 to 70. For example, the MS 60 uncirculated ones have no wear signs. Their luster is present but with very few stains and contact marks.
The difference comes from the color change on the silver and Franklin’s cheek. Such aspects show the wear on these coins.
Errors
Some 1954 Franklin half dollars have errors that came from their minting. They include mistakes in how the firms struck the letters, years, and Liberty bell’s lines.
Most collectors seek to have these coins. So, expect most such coins to have a high market value.
Coin Preservation
How you handle any 1954 Franklin half dollar can affect its value. When you give this coin proper care, it will maintain its quality for a long time.
Never think about washing your 1954 Franklin half dollar. Please keep it away from wetness and much heat.
Value of the 1954 Franklin Half Dollar
At this moment, you can now gauge your coin’s quality. But the current market prices will help you buy or sell your 1954 Franklin half dollar well.
1954 Franklin half dollars have a face value of $0.50. Their metal value is $9.28.
The Philadelphia mint coins range from $10, the lowest quality, to at least $14 in the highest grade. 1954-D coins sell at $10 for the lowest value. You’ll pay at least $14 for the highest quality 1954-D.
As for the 1954-S coins, they range from $12 to at least 16. Proof coins go for at least $100. Look at this chart to give you a proper guide.
1954 Franklin Half Dollar Coin’s Condition |
||||
| Date | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1954 | $8.32 | $10 | $11 | At least 14-$45 |
| 1954-D | $8.32 | $10 | $11 | At least 14-$75 |
| 1954-S | $8.32 | $10 | $14 | At least $16-$55 |
| Proof Coins | N/A | N/A | N/A | At least $100 |
Conclusion
The 1954 Franklin half dollar coins came from three mint firms. So, their value varies with the mint place, grade, errors, and how you care for it.
John Sinnock made the coin’s obverse art. Also, Gilroy and John Sinnock made the tail’s design.
Firms minted these coins to help cushion the nation’s economy. This coin’s features speak much about the US heritage.
Expect many collectors to go for this coin because of the specs. Remember, collectors even look for the ones with the good grade.
So, can you rate your 1954 Franklin half dollar’s value? How much would you sell it for today?
